Amphibian vehicle



Feb. 18, 1947. B. A. SWENNES AMPHIBIAN VEHICLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 6, 1944 Patented Feb. 18, 1947 AMPHIBIAN VEHICLE Benjamin A. Swennes, Rockford, Ill.,`a ssignr to Borg-Warner Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application April 6, 1944, SerialV No. 529,727

17 Claims.

y Myinvention relates to motor .vehicles and vmore particularly to amphibian motor vehicles having tracks on opposite sides for propelling the `vehicles either over land or through the water.

for; carrying cargo.`

two engines disposed adjacent opposite sides of In..my Acopending application, Serial No. 508,- 304, iiled October 30, 1943, there is disclosed an amphibian motor. Vehicle particularly adapted This vehicle is powered by the vehicle and providing between them an open load space. `The motors in such `a vehicle must, of' course', be cooled and must be provided surncient air for use by the motor carburetors and ini prior `amphibian vehicles having amotor therein for driving the vehicle and having an jopen load 'space therein, the motor was aircooled and air was provided for use by the motor carburetor by drawing suchY air from the load space. With such a construction, when the vehicle was used in heavy seas whereby water swept intodthe load space, a substantial amount of water was taken in with the air for the motor, and this water often caused a stoppageof the `motor. It is an objectV of my invention to proarrangement for' cooling such a controlled dif#-` vide a cooling and air supplying arrangement for a motor or motors in such a vehicle and particularly for the two-engined Vehicle shown in my prior application by means of which the water carried to the motors with the air is kept at a minimum. To this end itis an'object of my invention to provide a cab on such a vehicle which partially covers the load space in the vehicle and to provide a conduit having its entrance underneath this cab for supplying air` to each motor whereby water thatsweeps into the load space does not in general Wash into the cooling air conduit. 'i

Vehicles of this type` are commonly provided with a diierential transmission adjacent'an end of the vehiclewhich is connected withV track driving sprockets4 on each side ofthe vehicle. Whenthe vehicle is large, such as is c ontemplated in my aforesaid copending application, this differential transmission` becomes heated when the vehicle is in use, particularly when *the differential transmission is such that it may be controlled for steering the vehicle. In priorvehicles of this type,'such a controlled dilerential ltransmission wasv cooled by means of radiators forthe' oil in the 'transmission and' a fan was provided for cooling the radiators` LIt is an object Vofvmy in vention to provide an improved construction and ferentialv transmission in a vehicle Lof this type,

im,diiOU'tlui'is"end it is an object of my invention to provide the entrance of the duct supplyingV air to a motor of such a vehicle as above described adjacent and around about the controlled differential transmission so that the air supplied to a motor for cooling it has the additional func-A tion of cooling the transmission by circulating about the transmission. The entrance to the air duct for the motor preferably simply constitutes a housing for the controlled differential transmission having a plurality of air inlet openings therein such that air entering these openings circulates about the differential transmission.

It is a further object of my invention to providean improved air discharge for an air duct provided for supplying air to a motor in a vehicle 'of this type having a load space therein, and more particularly it is an object to provide lsuch an air discharge which permits none of the air discharged to enter the load space of the vehicle and discharges air sidewardly and endwardly of the vehicle.

The invention consists of the novel constructions, arrangements and .devices to be hereinafter described and claimed for carrying out the above stated objects vand suchrother objects as will appear from the following description of a certain preferred embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein: l i

Fig. 1 isa plan View, partially cut away, of an amphibian vehicle which embodies the principles of my invention and which is of the type disclosed in my aforesaidcopending application;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational View, partially cut away, of the amphibian vehicle; and

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Y Like characters of reference designate like parts in the several views. Referring now to the drawings, there is illustrated an amphibian vehicle comprising a watertight body 9 which is provided with a gatev III on its rear end. A pair of movable tracks I I are disposed in looped coniiguration on opposite sides of the body and the tracks are held in such coniguration on each side of the vehicle by means vof'an idler Wheel I2, a driving sprocket wheel I3, `a pluralityv of bogey wheels I4 andasecond idler 'wheel I5.. i rThe idler wheel I2 is ,preierablyfpro-` vided with adjustable means 116' of any suitf ab'lelconstruction for moving the Wheel longitudinally ofj the Vehicle toadjust the tightness in the track II supported by the wheel. The sprocket wheel Isis driven by means hereinafter to be described, and the bogey wheels I 4 are 'mounted on the body 9 by units I'I yieldingly and swingf Y i ingly `mounting the l body. The track by the sprockets I3 will transmissions '2 i 3 wheels with respect to the II is provided with lugs or grousers I8 of any suitable shape such that the tracks on both sides of the vehicle when driven the water, and the vehicle may, of course, be also driven over land bythe tracks I I similar to other track laying vehicles.

A pair of motors I9 disposed adjacent opposite sides of the body S and providing between them a load space are provided for driving the sprocket wheels I3 and thereby the tracks II.: which is of any suitable construction to Vprovide a plu-` The motors I9 each have a transmission 2 I,

rality of forward speed ratios and reverse, connected in tandem therewith. The vtransmissions 2l are each connected to drive a drive shaft 22 extending longitudinally of the body 9 'adjacent a side thereof, and theldrive shafts 22 are each connected to drivel av rigl itangle gear drive 23.

Therrehtsnsle-seenliVS er@ C Omitfd by r-neansofshafts 24 witha controlled differential transmission 25 which is disposed adjacent the front end ofthevehicle and substantially ,intermediate thesides of the body '9 inthe load space 2 9, The transmission '25 is connected to drive shafts 2 6 andthe construction of the transmission is suchithat Ione of the shafts 26 may rotate ,at a 'slower speed than lthe other shaft when the example, Aas with ordinary differential transmissions, and the 'transmission may be controles; .any `gliele mens im www such that either of Vthe shafts 2 6 maybe caused to rotatejata predetermined speed ratio with respigolit 0 th e` other shaft 2t. Each of the shafts 26 i'scorinecfted todi-ive va reduction gear unit 21, andeach ofthelatter units drives one of the traclgsprock'ets I3. For variousdetails of the amphibian vehicle 'as so far described, Vsuch as details `of the transmission 25 and of the shapes ofi-the raisers @my aforesaid cpendiiig'app1i cetionmaybe referred to. l Y

:heti'ansrnis'sion 25 arr the shafts 24 and -25 lconnected the'newi'th are enclosed in a hou'sinr :23 extendi n g trahsversely of the vehicle. EThe houding Yis provided air inlet openings 30 at 1its front and airdifnlet openings 3I at its rear. The'vehicle provided with la cab 3 2 at its front endwhich eitends over the transmission 25and flf-ior'lsingw 29 land thus .partially over the load spae2 0 The load space Zll, 'itwill be noted, is otherwise open, vA n operatorsseat 33 may be Blinrovided on the housing 29 4and vsuitable controls '('io't shown) 'may be provided atthe front of the f.

housing 2 3 for use by -an operator in controlling the ve'iiieie. Y

e Eenellills :34 ,extsllillnsfgsneraflly longitudinally f the vehicle isprovided for the motors I3, the and the drive shafts 22 as S l 1 0`wn. v panelling'deflnes the sides ofthe load space 2 ll,. wl aile the ends of the space 2l) lin which load maybe placed are defined bythe gate the extreme fronti-portion ofthe body 9.

.,llarll The panelling along with the sidesv of the vehicle, also defines portions 35a of air conduits or ducts 35,'which are provided for supplying [air tothe. mot-ors,v as will be hereinafterdescribed. Theair conduits 3`5 comprise, in addition to their vdiri-ions 35a, the vpoitiers 'stbjwhieh are formed by the transmission housing 29 and constitute the tent" c'e portions of the air conduits, Yand thel`con'duit "port ions 35a and 35h arein communieatieiiat ssc, fsssiibwn, in thefregions jor 'the ,f

right angle gear drives 23.

*The'air ducts 35 inpropel the vehicle through v load on oneof the shafts is greater than on the Y clude discharge openings 35d on the top of the vehicle directly above the motors I9 as shown. A cover 3E is provided for each of the discharge openings, and the covers are so constructed that air discharged through the openings 35d is discharged outwardly or sidewardly of the vehicle as shown in Fig.' 3 and toward the front and rear of the vehicle as show'n in Fig. 21, and the cover, as is apparent from Fig. 3, allows none of the air to be discharged inwardly of the vehicle into the load space 20.

yA radiator 31 of the usual construction is provided for each of the motors I9 in a duct 35 and "the motors 'I9 and through the discharge openings 35d. A ,An arrangement for draining the load space 2D of water is provided and comprises ajplurality i of drains 39 in the 'or'of the vehicle and a pump 'as driven byfeaoh or tneinotors r9. Each of the pumps 6 0 has an inlet 4I underneath one of the drains 39 at the "rearn of the vehicle, 'aridfea'ch pump has an "outletZ for'dischargingV waterfrom a side of the body 9. Thebottom ofthe vehicle is formed by a plurality 'of transverselyjextending channelslS as shown, and "a pipe M is .provided e'xtending longitudinally of the vehicle through the 'channels Afor veffectively connecting Vthe 'drains 39 at thefrontof the vehicle and those at the rear, so that the pumps 4'0 are effective for pumping out vof the vvehicle the water that Adisclfiarges into all offthe'd'rains.

When the vehicle is `traveling rough `'seas with its front 'end foremost, waves may tend to V'throw water into 'the vehicle 'andjinto the load space 2 0, 'but Vthe cab functions to 'keep the vfront end vof the load "space relatively ldry. The water that enters the lspace 20 flows 'into the drains 39 and jis discharged out of :thev'ehicle bythe Vvpumps '40. Duesgto the fact ythauthe .transmission housing 123 whieh'eonstiuites the iniets for nieiair duets 35is underneath the cab 32, amini'munof water yenters through 'the openings -3/far1d 3`I in the housing to get into the air 'ducts 35, and Vthis is particularly ynnieiii viw of the fact that Trione o'f the openings 3l and 30 vin the housing 29ans; `at floorleveh 1n the illustratedvehicle dueto this llocation o'f the Vinletsfor the air'du'cts 3"'5., there 'istll ,llitl'dalgr thatthemOtblS'vvll be triade 'inoperative 'due to eice'ssiv'e Vamun'ts of water 'supplied thereto. Y nir ent-erin" 'me inlet openings 'si .andiaojin the 'transmis o'nhousninfg 29 r,passes around and over the continues iiirerentia'i 'transmission 25, andthe air functions -to cool 'thetransmission so tl'iat auxliarygooo'ling meansfsuch' as ,a radiator 'for the oil inthe transmission, are not nec.-

transmission 2 4charges through the openings 35d and sideward- V The heated discharge air will thus advantageously not be directed on cargo or personnel in 'the load space with ill effect.

` I wish it to be understood that my invention is not to`be limited to the specific constructions and arrangements shown and described, except only `insofar as the claims may be so limited, as

it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes may be `made ywithout departing 'from the principles of the invention. YI claim: Y

l. VIn a boat, means defining a space inside the 'boat for receiving a load, means for propelling the boat through the water and including a motor, means for cooling the motor and including means defining a, cooling air conduit in the boat and means for forcing air through the conduit, and means for partially covering said load space and the load space being otherwise open,

the entrance to said conduit being underneath said covering means Vwhereby a minimum of water splashing into the load space is drawn into the conduit.

2, In aboat, means defining a space inside the boat for receiving a load, means for propelling the boat through the water and including a motor, means for cooling the motor and including means defining a cooling air conduit in the boat and means for forcing air through the 4oonduit, and a cab for a boat operator at one endof 'sai-d load space and partially covering the load fspace, said load'space being otherwise open, the

entrance to said conduit being underneath said cab whereby a minimum of water splashing into the load space is drawn into the conduit.

3. In a boat, means defining a space inside the 'boat for receivingr a load and including a deck'on which a load may be placed, means for propelling the boat through the water and including a motor, means for cooling the motor and including means defining ja cooling air conduit in the boat and means for forcing air through the conduit, and a cab for a boat operator at the front of the boat and partially covering said load space,

said load space being otherwise open, the entrance to said conduit being underneath said cab and being higher than the level of saidv deck whereby a minimum of water splashing into the Aload space is drawn into the conduit.

4. In a boat, means defining a space inside the boat for receiving a load andv including a deck on which a load may be placed, means for propelling the boat through the water and including a ymotor, means for cooling the motor and including means defining a cooling air conduit in the boat and means for forcing air through the conduit, a cab at the front of the boat and partially covering said load space and the load space being L'otherwise open, the entrance to said conduit.

being underneath said cab and being higherthan ,the level of said deck' whereby a minimum. of

water splashing into the load space is drawn into the conduit, and a pump driven by said motor for draining said load space of water.

Vmeans defining a cooling air conduit in the boat and" a fan -for `forcing air through the conduit :and driven by said motor, a cab atthelfront of vposed underneathv said cab, and ahousing for lsaid transmission mechanism underneath said cab;y said transmission housing being provided with openings therein and lbeing connected with said conduit to form the entrance thereto whereby` a minimum of water splashing into the load space is drawn into the conduit.

6. lIn a boat, means for propelling the boat through the water and including a motor positioned in the boat adjacent one side thereof, means for cooling the motor and including a housingV for said motor defining a cooling air conduit extending longitudinally of the boat and a fan driven by said moto-r for forcing air through the conduit, `said boat having a space therein defined by said motor housing at one side for receiving a load, a cab at thev front nof said boat for partially covering said load space and the loadA space being otherwise open, said boat propelling means including transmission mechanism at the front of the boat underneath said cab and operatively connected with said motor to be driven thereby, and a housing underneath said cab for said transmission mechanism, said housing being provided with a Aplurality of air inlet openings and being connected with said conduit to constitute the entrance thereof whereby a minimum of water splashing into the load space is drawn into the conduit.

7. In a boat, means for propelling the boat through the water and including a pair of tracks on opposite sides of the boat anda pair of motors in the boat adjacent opposite sides thereof, means for cooling said motors and including a housing for each of the motors, each housing defining an air conduit extending longitudinally of the boat and having an air discharge opening, and a .fan driven by each motor for forcing air through the respective conduits and out their and being provided with a plurality of airine lets and being connected with said conduitstto constitute the entrances to the conduits whereby a minimum of water splashing into the load space is drawn into the conduits.'A

8. In a boat, means vfor propelling the: boat 4through the water. and including a pairof tracks on opposite sides of the boat and a pair of mo-4 tors in the boat disposedadj'acent opposite sides of the boat,means for cooling said motors and `including a housing for each of the motors-each housing defining a cooling air conduit extending longitudinally of the boat at a side thereof and havingv an air discharge opening, a radiator in each of theY conduits and a fan driven by each of saidmotors for forcing air through the respective conduits andy radiators andout of their discharge openings, means defining a space inside the boat for receiving a` load and including said motor housings at the sides ofthe boat and a deck on which a load may be placed, a cab yat the front of the boat partially covering said'lad space'and the load space being otherwise open,

means operatively connecting said tracks and aar-.6,128

V:said anotors rand .includinga :transmission .und'er l Yneath.r-said fcab and vshafts extending longitude ii-ng for .said ytransmission underneath ,said cab y -9. inra vehicle, =means1at each side-of the velhicle :for 4propelling lthe vehicle, ia `motor in --said 1 `vehicle; means for noperatively':connecting said rmotorandpropelling means and including a,=.dif f Aferenti-al transmission connected Wit-h the l-proi pelling means ion each side ofthe vehiclaa-raidiator for cooling said motor, means defining a vcooling air conduit in said vehicle ybetween 'said transmission and said radiator fand .ihavingi'itsen-Y i trance adjacent said transmissiom an air -disl Vcharge foutlet iorsaid conduit-and means driven 'byfsaid-.motor for Yforcing Aair through said con- 1 duit'andout said discharge Ioutlet for cooling said 4transmissionand 'also 4'said radiator and thereby .said motor..

v2:10. In ravehi'cle, means at ea'chside of the'vehiclerfor propellingfth'e vehicle, .a motor in said ve- "hicle and disposed adjacent one'side of 'the'vehicle,fmeans.or operatively connecting said motor and propellingmeans and including a differential 'transmission connected with the propellingmeans -on :each 'side' ofthe vehicle and disposed adjacent 'one :end of the -vehicle intermediate v.its fsides,

.meansfdening a cooling 'air 'conduitin the vehicle having its entrance adjacent saidY transmisj sion and extending between rsaid'transmission and motorso that air lpassingtherethrough cools both Vv.the"transmission and' motonanfair .discharge .out-

l'et for'said conduit, andmeans Adrivenfby .said

Amotor l for forcing air through v said vconduit* fand -tout"said discharge zroutlet.

lil. Ina vehicle, means at opposite sides'of the :vehicle for :propelling'the vehicla'aI pair offrnotors Y in the" vehicle disposeda'djacent'opposite sides io'f.

l"the vehicle, Ineansfor .operatively `connectingsai'd motors andprope'lling` means and including a Vdif'- ferential transmission connectedwithfthe pro- :1

VKpelling means `onboth sides ofthevehicleand disposed adjacent one. .end of thevehicle *intermediate its sides, means -dening -air conduits l .h'aving their entrances adjacent said etransmisfr 4sion and'each extending between'f-theftransmisi sion and one of said'motors'so that .fair passing through the'conduits; cools the transmission 'andI motors, .an -air discharge outletfor:eachrconduin `and means driven by said motors'fo-r forcing :air

.through said conduits and out :the Ydischarge .outi iets.

lconnecting saidfmotors :and 'said tracks v`aand .in- Acluding a differential transmissiongconnectedwith thetracks on both vsidesof `the "vehicle and 'dis` posed adjacent one end of thefvefhicle. and-inter- -mediate its sidesand-ia/shaftrdriven by :each-:lof

I.said A.motors and extending Llongitudinally ofi-the' :vehicle adjacent a side thereof,..=me ans:defining-a pai-r of air conduits .having entrances ladiacen-t said, transmission landseach. extending between fthe' transmission androne of said :motors so that `12.'.AIn-a vehicle, :a pai-r `of tracks at opposite k `fsides of the Y'vehicle for i propellingy lthe "vehicle, a i pair of motors in said vehicle disposedadjacent yopposite sides of the vehicla-meansfor operatively .airypassingthrough the conduits passes over fthe transmission :andmo-tors .to cool fthe transmission and l.motorsgan air discharge outlet for eachccinduit said last named meansincluding-zahousing for said transmission having .fa plurality fof air inlet vents and extending .transversely of the Nehcle and 'a housing for each of said motors and its drive shaft extending vllongitudinally rof :the vehicle along a sidethereof andincommun-ication with theftransmission housing, l'and means K- driven by v.said vmotors for forcing air through saidfcon- `duits and 'out said .discharge outlets.

13. "In `a boat, means for propelling theboat through the Water and including a pair of tracks on opposite sides vof -the ',boat, means for .driving said tracks .andincluding apair fof motors in the boat disposed 'adjacent opposite .sides thereoLa diiferential .transmission v,disposed adjacent .the front end of Vthe Kboat and l intermediate its sides and connected with the .tracks on ,both sides -of the boat, .apair .of drive shafts V:extendinglongitudinally of ,the boat adjacent oppositersides thereof and eachzdriven ,by oneof vsai-,d motors .and

ya pair of right-anglegear drivesadj acent-Qppsite sides of the `boat and .adjacent the Afrom', end of the boat and each driven byone ofsaidshafts and driving said transmission, a housing .for each of said motors and its drive shaft extending :longitudinally of the boat adjacent a side, of the boatl and having anair discharge opening, said housings defining a load space in the boat, a cab at one end of the loadspace and partially covering the load space, said 'load space being otherwise open, meansdeiining a lpair of cool-ing air lconduitshaving theirv entrances .adjacentlsaid vdifferential transmission and .each havingone of said motors therein, saidlast-namedmeans.comprising a housing for said transmission having'a plurality of air inlets opening thereinfand saidv moto-r and shaft housings Whichare in communication withthe vtransmission-housing, .a radiator .for each of said -motors in the .conduit .forthe motor, and afan drivenby each of said .motors for drawing .-air through the radiator .and .the .conduit for 'the respective motor andfor forcingfthe air outof the discharge openingior coolingisaid transmission and for cooling V.the motor, v.said transmission and its housing being.disposed.un derneath said cab Wherebya.mnimum..of water vsplashing into `the load spaceisdrawninto ,said conduits, and a pump driven'by .each .of .said 'motors for pumping .Water out of said loadspace.

.14. .In a boat, means for A.propellingthe boat through the Water and including -apair of 4.tracks on oppositesides of the Jooat, .apairof motors in the boat disposed adjacent opposite..sides,of

`the boat, ,means operatively connecting (..isaid motors and said `Atracks ,and including...a .diiferential transmission disposed adjacent,theffrontend of th'ejboat and 'intermediate its sides, apr of drive shafts extending longitudinally Qfihelhoat adjacentopposite sides, thereof and each driven by. one .of said motors Aand valoa'ir ofv Arightf-angle gear drives Yadjacent [the jfront .end ofthe "boat and connected to be driven lbyone 'of said'drive shafts and to--drivesaid transmission, means 'defm-ing a conduitfor `each ofisaid v1motorshavingY its entrance adjacentfsaid transmission -and havlingfthe motor therein, `said `last-named means ".comprisingai housing Vfor saldi.` transmission .hav- .ing a pluralityoffairrinlet openingsandlafhous- --ing fior. eachA of said motors..,and :its drive shaft and A`extending longitudinallyfiof therboat :andi-in -zcommnication .with 'fsaid transmissionifhousirigfa ljradiatorsfor*each of said motorsfvfand frdisposed in the conduit for the motor, a. fan driven by each of said motors for drawing air through the conduit for the respective motor for cooling said transmission, said right-angle gear drives and the motor and its radiator, means including said housings denng a space inside the boat for receiving a load, a cab disposed over said transmission and its housing and partially covering said load space, said load space being otherwise open, a pump driven by each of said motors for pumping -water out of said load space, said cab preventing more than a minimum of water splashing into said load space from being drawn into said conduits, each of said conduits having a discharge opening on the top of the boat over the motor in the conduit, and a cover over the discharge opening of each conduit arranged to discharge the air from the conduit toward the ends and outer side of the vehicle and preventing a discharge of air into the load space.

15. In a vehicle, means on the outside of the vehicle for propelling the vehicle, a motor disposed adjacent a side of the vehicle and operatively connected with saidA propelling means, means defining a load space in the vehicle and including a housing for saidkmotor, said housing dening a cooling air conduit having an outlet on the top of the vehicle at the side of said load space, means for forcing air through said conduit, and a cover on said conduit outlet directing the air discharged therethrough toward the ends a radiator -in each of said conduits connected to cool the motor in the conduit, means driven by each of said motors for drawing air through the respective radiator and conduit, each of-said conduits having a discharge opening in the top of the boat above the motor, and a cover for each of said discharge openings for preventing the entrance of Water into the opening and arranged to direct the cooling air discharged from the opening toward the ends and sides of the vehicle and preventing a discharge of air from the opening into said load space.

17. In a vehicle, means at each side of the vehicle for propelling the vehicle, a motor in said vehicle, means operatively connecting said motor and propelling means and including a. differential transmission connected with theprovpelling means on each side of the vehicle, means dening a cooling air conduit in said vehicle disposed about said transmission and motor andV having its entrance adjacent said transmission, an air discharge outlet for the conduit, and means driven by said motor for forcing air over v said transmission for cooling the transmission and side of the vehicle and preventing a discharge of cooling air into the load space.

16. In a boat, the combination of means on the exterior of the boat for propelling the boat through the water, a pair of motors disposed adjacent opposite sides of the boat and operatively connected with said propelling means, means deiining a load space in the boat and including housings for said motors, said housings each dening a cooling air conduit for a motor,

and for forcing air past the motor for cooling said motor and discharging said air through said outlet to the outside of the vehicle.

BENJAMIN A. SWENNES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are. of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

